OAK BROOK, Ill., Apr. 01 /CSRwire/ - McDonald’s today announced its “2014 Best of Sustainable Supply” winners in a report highlighting how suppliers achieved significant results by identifying opportunities and applying sustainable solutions in diverse places around the world. McDonald’s leadership and industry experts recognized sustainable accomplishments across eight platforms: Climate Change and Energy; Water; Waste; Land and Biodiversity; Human Health and Welfare; Animal Health and Welfare; Community Impact and Economics. A total of 51 entries were recognized from nearly 600 submissions received. Click here to access the full “Best of Sustainable Supply” report.

“Our suppliers continue to go above and beyond to provide sustainable leadership and take their commitment to preserving resources seriously,” said Jose Armario, executive vice president, McDonald’s Global Supply Chain, Development & Franchising. “We are fortunate to work with such a diverse and dedicated group of suppliers to service our 35,000 global restaurants and 70 million customers each day.”

The Campbell Soup Company led a “Just Peachy” project that re-purposed fruit to raise non-profit funds and combat hunger.

Water

Through innovation and collaboration, the Lamb Weston / Meijer team created Innowater (renewed water), a technology to purify water to reuse in manufacturing processes.

Waste

ConAgra Foods established the “Zero Waste Champion” Recognition Program. The award is earned by facilities that have diverted at least 95% of solid waste from landfills during the fiscal year and continuously strive to further reduce waste through process modifications and diversion of materials for the most beneficial reuse.

Climate Change and Energy

The Coca-Cola Company routed orange juice from a processing facility to a bottling plant via an underground, 1.2 mile pipeline. It has eliminated the need for an average of 70 tanker trucks per day and provides cost savings and reduces the company’s carbon emissions by approximately 20 million tons per year.

"It is critical to recognize progress in sustainability to encourage more of it," said Christine Bader, human rights advisor to BSR (Business for Social Responsibility). "By highlighting good practices among its supply chain partners, McDonald's is rewarding the sort of innovation that we all want to see."

“Selecting a small list of winners from such a robust group of entrants was challenging,” said John Davies, vice president, GreenBiz. “Every entry was valid, with all programs demonstrating impressive ingenuity and results. It boiled down to identifying entries that were innovative and impactful, and programs that could not only enhance sustainability in the broader industry, but ideas that were sustainable themselves.”

Davies and Bader were two of 14 judges on the selection committee, collectively representing 13 different companies and organizations. A complete list of the judges is available in the full “Best of Sustainable Supply” report.

About McDonald'sMcDonald's is the world's leading global food service retailer with more than 35,000 locations serving approximately 70 million customers in more than 100 countries each day. More than 80% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business men and women. To learn more about the company, please visit: www.aboutmcdonalds.com and follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/mcdonaldscorp) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mcdonaldscorp).

McDonald's Corporation

McDonald's is the world's leading global food service retailer with more than 35,000 locations serving approximately 70 million customers in more than 100 countries each day. More than 80% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business men and women.